Electric switch.



J'. A. MEAHBR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION IILED DEG.19, 1911.

JOSEPH A. MEAHEB, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application led December 19, 1911. SerialNo. 666,753.

To ZZ l1-'710m it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. MEAHER, a citizen vof the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the `following is a speciication.

My invention relatesd to improvements in electric switches, and more particularly to that class or type which are designed to be automatically operated, the present embodiment of the invention being particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with automatic systems of water supply wherein an electric motor is employed for pumping air into the air chamber of the water supply tank, said motor being adapted to be automatically thrown into and out of operation whenever a predetermined pres-v sure of the water or operating fluid is tion. Fig.

reached.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved automatic 4iiuid actuated electric switch adapted to make and break circuit whereby the motor is thrown into and out of operation when certain predetermined pressures are reached.

With the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

'Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a view of the improved fiuid actuated electric switch, the Parts being shown in their closed posi- 2, a view of the same in open position. Fig. 3, a detailed view, partly in section, lever and spring pressed plunger member for coperating with the inclined face or bearing portions of the fiuid actuated piston stem.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The improved iuid actuated electric switch comprises a fluid pressure or piston cylinder 1, forming a fluid pressure chamber and provided with a fluid inlet port having a fluid inlet pipe 2, the latter communicating with the source of iiuid supply. The piston cylinder 1, in the present instance, is proof the pivotally mounted switchv vided with a supporting or bearing bracket 3, and is preferably provided with a removable guide head or bracket 4.

The iuid pressure chamber is provided with a piston 5, adapted to be operated against the resistance of the spring 6, interposed between the piston 5, and the guide head or bracket 4, said piston being provided with a guide stein 7, extending through a suitable opening in the head or bracket 4, and through la second guide opening in the 'supporting bracket 3.

The switch, proper, comprises a switch lever 8, pivotally mounted, in the present instance, in a bearing bracket 9, removably secured to the supporting bracket 3, one end of the switch lever being provided with a removably mounted carbon contact. member 10, suitably insulated and connected to a suitable conducting 4wire 11, -said carbon contact 10, being adapted in its closed position to be held in close conta-et with a second carbon contact member 12, the latter being also removably secured in a holder 13, and suitably connected to alsuitable connecting wire; The supporting bracket 3, may be provided with any suitable and. convenient switch, such `for example, as the ordinary thumb switch'14, and as la means for regulating the throw of the switch lever '8, 'and stopping the latter in its open position, an adjustably mounted stop screw 15, may beprovided in the supporting bracket 8, as shown.

As a means for giving the switch lever.-8,

the proper responsive and quick and positive movement in its opening and closing action as required in a switch of this character, (as well as providing means for holdin the same in its respective open and closed positions under tension, the guide stem 7, is provided with oppositely extending bearing portions 16, said bearing portions, in the present instance, being formed by means of a double facedghead or annular projection consistin in the present instance, of two truncate cone shaped membershaving their bases coincident and adapted to form a bearing surface for a movable contact or plunger member 17 said contact member 17, in the present instance, being in the form of a spring pressed pin longitudinally movable in an opening 18 (see Fig.' 3) of one end of the switch lever `and operating against the resistance of a coiled spring 19. The relative arrangement and disposition of the parts, and particularly the pressure and coaction of the plunger member 17, with the inclined faces or bearing portions 1G, of the head'of the guide stem 7 are such that as the latter is reciprocated through the movement of the piston 5, the switch lever 8, will be moved to its respective closed and open positions as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawings, and will be moved and held in such position as required in a switch ot' this class, as above explained.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

lHaving thus described one of the embodiments of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.-

l. In an electric switch, a rotatable stem having oppositely extending annular i-nclines and lan apex portion, a pivotally mounted; switch lever carrying a cont-act member at one end, a spring pressed longitudinally movable plunger pin at the opposite end of said switch lever in contact with and adapted to ride on said inclines at an obtuse angle thereto, said plunger pin upon the passingv of said apex portion being adapted to coperate with the opposite incline whereby to throw said lever at a predetermined ypoint in the reciprocation of said stem.

2. In an electric switch, a rotatable stem provided with oppositely inclined obtusely angled annular bearing portions', a pivotally mounted switch lever having a relatively long arm carrying a contact member, and a contact pin longitudinally movable with the short arm of said lever, said contact member being spring pressed at an obtuse angle to said bearing portions and being adapted to actuate said switch lever upon the passing of said contact member from one incline to the other during the reciprocatory movements of said stem.

3. An electric switch, comprisin a circumferentially movable guide mem er provided with an annular projection and made up of two truncated cone-shaped members having their bases coincident, a switch lever pivoted opposite said annular projection, a spring pressed plunger pin longitudinally movable in said switch lever and extending in Contact with the sides of said truncated cone-shaped members at an obtuse angle thereto whereb the coaction of said plunger pin with t e inclined sides of said annular projection is adapted to hold said switch in its open and closed positions and to throw the same in an opposite direction when passed from one incline to the other,

4. An electric switch, comprising a supporting bracket, a stem carrying oppositely extendin conical shaped bearing portions, a pivotay mounted switch lever carried by said supporting bracket and having arms of unequal'lengths, a carbon contact carried by the lon er arm of said switch lever, a spring resiste plunger pin carried by and longitudinally movable in the shorter arm of said switch lever and in contact with the bearing portions of said stem, said plunger pin being adapted to ride upon said bearing portions and extending at an obtuse angle thereto, and an adjusting stop for limiting the opening movement of said switch lever,

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature 'in presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH A. MEAHER.

Witnesses:

O. C. BILLMAN, P. P. TURNER. 

